Count Basie Kansas City Suite VERY RARE UK 1960 Columbia STEREO LP EX/EX+

	£		25
	$		33

VERY RARE, Original U.K. 1960 Turquoise & Silver Columbia Records STEREO L.P. pressing of Count Basie and his Orchestra ‘Kansas City Suite (The Music of Benny Carter)’ (Catalogue Reference: Columbia Records SCX 3393).  Originally issued on Roulette Records in the States this is the rare U.K. stereo pressing.  This features a lovely, weighty EMI pressing in what appears to be the original and very attractive poly-lined inner sleeve featuring images of the musicians who have recorded for EMI.  The matrixes read ‘RSD 196A-1’ (Side One) and ‘RSD 196B-2’ (Side Two).  The sleeve is of reasonably heavy-duty construction (certainly more heavy-duty than was common of mid-60s U.K. sleeves) but the economising has already begun with no flip-back along the spine.  The black print on the rear has also not been applied as heavily as was customary on 50s U.K. sleeves.  The stereo demarcation is in lower case on the front of the sleeve.  This is a very fine copy which while having seen some play has been very well looked after.

CONDITION: EX (VINYL) / EX+ (SLEEVE): I can tell this copy has seen play but the surfaces retain a great sheen.  It has obviously been very carefully handled.  There are no obvious marks and the surfaces are very clean for the age although there might have been a very slight reaction with the poly-lined inner on Side Two (hard to tell).  If you look very hard under an intense light a limited volume of ultra-fine hairline marks are visible.  If you angle the labels under an intense light some spindle ‘drags’ are visible but they are pretty damn clean and show no signs of disintegration (which can occur when they have been handled a lot which clearly isn’t the case here).  The sleeve really doesn’t look the best part of 60 years old.  There is a ‘freshness’ to the laminate and the rear remains pretty white.  The sleeve is also very flat.  The flaws are few and far between but include minimal wear to each corner with the bottom right-hand corner on the rear displaying a tiny amount of water damage, the number ‘61’ in pencil on the flip-back in the top right-hand corner and a little excess glue residue from the production process along the opening edge on the rear (or that is what I take it to be).  Ultimately, this is a very fine example of a hard-to-find U.K. stereo pressing!

GRADINGS – How I Grade

My items are visually graded under an intense light using my nearly 20 years of experience buying and playing records.  I am a record collector first and foremost.  I would say my grading is on the conservative side however, it is also realistic.  Realistic in the sense that sometimes even brand new records are not immaculate.  Some items are play-graded and where this is the case it will be noted in the Item Description.  Please note that it is my assertion that 99.9% of issues which might be experienced upon playback of a record can be identified through visual grading.  I’m a longstanding Ebayer so please feel free to check my feedback if you have any concerns about the quality of the items I list.  As always please review my images if you have any concern about the condition of a sleeve!  A picture speaks a thousand words!  

GRADINGS - Description

MINT – If used to describe the condition of a record the item will be sealed.  Mint will rarely be used to describe the condition of a sleeve however, it will mean the item is sealed and no storage damage is evident.

NEAR MINT – When used to describe a record it will mean that it is hard to discern that the disc has been played.  When viewed under an intenselight there might be the odd hairline mark however, you would really have to look hard for it.  Ultimately, the vinyl will look like it has just been made.  When used to describe a sleeve it will mean that the sleeve has no shelf-wear or storage damage.  The sleeve will look like new.

EXCELLENT+ - There will be an indication that the record has seen some play but not heavy play.  When viewed under an intense light only the tiniest, wispiest hairline markings will be present and not excessively so.  The vinyl will retain a great sheen.  A sleeve described as EX+ will display minimal shelf or storage wear including an odd crease or the stubbing of corners, slight fraying to the opening edge.  Ultimately, the sleeve will still be a superior example.

EXCELLENT – There might be an indication that the record has seen a reasonable amount of play and handling however, it has been well looked after.  Superficial surfaces scuffs may be present but no marks of real substance (i.e. which will affect playback).  Under an intense light it is likely that a relative volume of hairline marks are present.  A sleeve described as EX will display shelf or storage wear including creasing, loss of print (due to rubbing), possible stubbing of corners etc.  The sleeve will not display any substantial flaws.  Ultimately, it will be a solid copy.

VERY GOOD+ - I will rarely list vinyl for sale described as VG+.  Any vinyl listed as VG+ will have a detailed condition description included in the listing.  The description VG+ is more often used to describe sleeves.  Often VG+ describes the condition of a sleeve which was of very cheap manufacture (think 1970s EMI sleeves or Polydor late 60s/early 70s) and therefore more prone to display the vagaries of time.  A sleeve described as VG+ will not be a basket case.  It will likely display a reasonable volume of creasing, a reasonable amount of rubbing/stubbing and possible the odd substantial flaw.

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